"Ah Brutus welcome home dear. I see you brought Eddie as well." I couldn't help but smile seeing my husband walk in awkwardly holding a little girl.
In truth we always wanted a child but unfortunately my womb was destroyed many years ago so I could never birth my own.
But having Eddie was a pleasant time. She was a quiet girl but I could tell she was sweet.
And I was happy because today I'd get to surprise her.
Our village had a rule that no child may be left an orphan they must be taken in by a family. But unfortunately many feared Brutus and I for being Minotaurs. So for the longest time. Children feared us.
But eventually the villagers started to warm to us so now that Eddie finally came along...
I just wish the circumstances were happier.
She wasn't from the village she just showed up on the farm a few months ago and worked there but she always kept herself hidden away from most other people.
Then I heard only she and my husband survived the dragon attack.
We both mutually agreed to take her in and give her a home but we still had to fill out paperwork.
She was still quiet but we finally convinced her to eat meals with us.
Now I finished all the paperwork so soon she'd be able to start school and more importantly we were now her legal guardians. Hopefully soon we could become her parents as well.
"Hi Mrs Vina." Eddie said in her quiet voice.
I looked down to see she picked a white Lily for me.
"Oh well thank you Eddie." I got down on my Knee to accept the flower and ruffle her hair.
"I have some good news for you as well... Eddie as of now Brutus and I are officially your Legal guardians." I said excited
She had a blank look on her face
Ummmm
"So excited ya can't talk?"
Suddenly she said in a monotone voice
"What do I owe you?"
Wait a second that isn't right
"Oh nononono. Eddie you don't owe us anything we applied to become your caretakers."
"No I have to owe you something or I'll have an unpaid debt."
"Eddie... family isn't a de-" she interrupted me before I could finish
"NO I CAN'T HAVE... I DON'T DESERVE A FAMILY!" She yelled with tears in her eyes before running into the storage room and closing the door.
"What did I do wrong?" I asked Brutus confused and saddened by her reaction
"I... don't know. Maybe we should give her some time Vina." Brutus put his large hand on my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me.
————————
DAMMITDAMMITDAMMITDAMMIT!
I can't accept this. They HAVE to want something from me they have to
I cried into my one good arm while I locked myself in storage
I couldn't stay here anymore could I. Not after I acted that way.
But should I sneak out at night or just leave.
It'd be easier to go at night but... I can't do that.
They took me in for a week and Brutus helped me make a place for Milka and Cluck.
I supposed once I composed myself I would bid them a farewell and walk out on my own.
I spent what felt like an hour calming and composing myself before stepping out only to see Brutus sitting in a chair and Vina standing right in front of me.
Well let's get this over with
"I believe it's time I-" before I could finish I was cut off by the feeling of Mrs Vina... hugging me.
Oh... I forgot what it felt like to be hugged.
"Why... why are you so nice to me?" I felt the tears coming back so much for self control
"Well Eddie can we sit down and talk."
"Ok..."
———
"So Eddie you're right we have our own reasons for wanting to take you in. You see I'm unable to have any children of my own." Mrs Vina told me
I see so she never had a kid and wanted one.
Hmmmm
"But... I'm the only one that would benefit from this exchange. There must be something you'd want in return."
"Well if you must then... how about you can repay us by doing well in school." Brutus said which caught me by surprise
I didn't realize they had school here
"Wait school?" I asked confused
"Yes. All children your age are supposed to enroll in schooling it's a part of the last the Emperor put in place some 20 years ago." Vina mentioned.
"I already picked out an outfit we just need to get you washed up before your big day tomorrow." She said enthusiastically.
Admittedly I didn't want to bother too much with school but I figured I should repay her and this would also be my first real bath in months instead of just a soak in the river or rain.
—————
Well this was awkward. I never really thought about it but here I was naked being bathed by a fairly large Minotaur woman. I started to put together just how small and pathetic I truly appeared when I looked in a mirror.
I was all scratched up and despite showing some signs of muscle I was also clearly leaning towards malnourished.
My hair was a raggedy mess now reached to my should blades but all sorts of choppy and a lot of it covering up my face.
My blue eyes had the look of someone dead inside
I looked less like a princess and more like a child abuse victim.
Then there was my arm. Where the flesh was still charred black from the flames burning everything past the wrist off completely and leaving the forearm a charred mess that likely smelled for a while
I looked like a walking charity case. No one would believe I was the first princess of a foreign kingdom.
I felt the water of the bath poured over my body as I remained still and silent while being bathed until
"Oh Eddie your hair... it's turning white." Vina spoke
Dang I didn't have any dye
"Huh is it?"
"I'm sorry..." vina said which confused me
Why would she apologize
"You may not know it but there's a legend that someone's hair turning white means they went through some form of Agonizing injury." She explained
I never heard of that before but mine was always white.
But then I realized something wasn't Vina's hair also white at least partially?
Oh... it must have been when she lost her child.
"Well it's ok Dear. Actually the black and white makes your hair look more like mine."
Heh... is that so.
Well I guess I could try and give her a child at least for a while
"Well Mrs Vina... if you're willing... I could at least try being your foster child."
"Oh... thank you Eddie." I felt her hug me again
Would it really be ok for me to get used to this?
YOU ARE READING
Princess Farmhand
FantasyPrincess Edelweiss was not a good person. She frequently bullied others and took advantage of them many could consider her a villainess. Insults, cruel pranks, blackmail. She was one of the worst most manipulative people out there. Who could stop he...
